Mrs. Spring Fragrance is a 1912 short story by Sui Sin Far. In the story, Mrs. Spring Fragrance, a Chinese...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Mrs. Spring Fragrance is a 1912 short story by Sui Sin Far. In the story, Mrs. Spring Fragrance, a Chinese immigrant living in Seattle, is traveling in California. In letters to her husband and friend, she demonstrates her concern for what's happening at her home in Seattle while she is away: ______
Which quotation from Mrs. Spring Fragrance's letters most effectively illustrates the claim?
'My honorable cousin is preparing for the Fifth Moon Festival, and wishes me to compound for the occasion some American 'fudge,' for which delectable sweet, made by my clumsy hands, you have sometimes shown a slight prejudice.'
'Next week I accompany Ah Oi to the beauteous town of San José. There will we be met by the son of the Illustrious Teacher.'
'Forget not to care for the cat, the birds, and the flowers. Do not eat too quickly nor fan too vigorously now that the weather is warming.'
'I am enjoying a most agreeable visit, and American friends, as also our own, strive benevolently for the accomplishment of my pleasure.'
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Mrs. Spring Fragrance' is a 1912 short story by Sui Sin Far. |
|
| In the story, Mrs. Spring Fragrance, a Chinese immigrant living in Seattle, is traveling in California. |
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| In letters to her husband and friend, she demonstrates her concern for what's happening at her home in Seattle while she is away: |
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Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The passage establishes that Mrs. Spring Fragrance's letters show her concern for what's happening at her Seattle home while she travels in California.
Argument Flow: The passage provides context about a 1912 story, introduces the main character and her situation (traveling away from home), then presents the specific claim about her demonstrating concern for home through her letters—setting up the need for supporting evidence.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct quotation should show Mrs. Spring Fragrance expressing care or worry about specific things happening at her Seattle home, not about her California experiences
- We'd expect to see her giving instructions about home care, asking about home situations, or showing concern for people/things she left behind in Seattle
- The right answer should clearly demonstrate that her thoughts and concerns are focused on what's happening back home while she's away
'My honorable cousin is preparing for the Fifth Moon Festival, and wishes me to compound for the occasion some American 'fudge,' for which delectable sweet, made by my clumsy hands, you have sometimes shown a slight prejudice.'
✗ Incorrect
- Discusses making American fudge for her cousin's festival preparation
- This describes her current California activities, not concern for Seattle home
'Next week I accompany Ah Oi to the beauteous town of San José. There will we be met by the son of the Illustrious Teacher.'
✗ Incorrect
- Describes upcoming travel plans within California (going to San José)
- Again focuses on her California itinerary, not Seattle home matters
'Forget not to care for the cat, the birds, and the flowers. Do not eat too quickly nor fan too vigorously now that the weather is warming.'
✓ Correct
- Gives specific instructions about caring for home: "care for the cat, the birds, and the flowers" and shows concern for someone's health and behavior at home: "Do not eat too quickly nor fan too vigorously"
- Directly demonstrates active concern for what's happening at her Seattle home while she's away
'I am enjoying a most agreeable visit, and American friends, as also our own, strive benevolently for the accomplishment of my pleasure.'
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on her enjoyable California visit and social activities
- Describes her current situation rather than concern for home